27 Life Lessons I’ve Learned In My 27 Years Of Existence

27 Life Lessons I’ve Learned In My 27 Years Of Existence

It is the same day of the year that, as an adult, I feel both the happiness and sadness all at the same time. Happiness because I am able to live another year of love, triumph, lesson, achievement, and dream yet to be fully realized. And at the same time, the feeling of sadness that I am walking down the road of life without accomplishing some of the things that can derive and I associate with happiness.

But on this day, a special day for me, I promised to cry tears, not of sadness, but with the joy of knowing that I still have another year to make things productive as I please. And before my 27th year of existence starts, I would like to share my 27 life lessons that I’ve learned in my 27 years of existence.

Love

It is a topic so cliche, I know. And I am not a pro to talk about it. But at 27 years old, loving and being loved is something at this age we are quite familiar with: have learned and can still learn from.

1. I have learned that love isn’t something you ask. It is freely given. And there will always be that one person who can give the love that you deserve.

2. Love is synonymous with pain. When you love, expect that you will experience despair. These two go hand in hand. And the bridge that helps in making these two on a balance is forgiveness. Forgiveness is healing. And that is still love, in one way or another.

3. But if there is the pain, there is also hope. Where there is love, hope is also present. Love perhaps is at a spark when on the onset there is hope to start with. Or even in the least expected occurrence of a storm of pain, hope can definitely subside the ominous wrath.

Family

It has been said that blood is thicker than water. And it is definitely true for the lesson that I’ve learned in my 27 years of existence.

4. At the end of the day, your family will always be the last haven that you will always find comfort in. Treasure them.

5. There will always be a silent support that you will get from your family. You will not hear their cheers but they are the ones who are on the frontline of supporters that will always be cheering for you with or without you knowing it.

6. Other things may change, but we start and end with family.

Friends

In the absence of your family, your friends will be the ones who will be there for you. And I am so happy that despite me having a small circle, I can truly count on them. Always.

7. You don’t need to keep a lot of them. Dandelions aren’t like true friends. They are not fleeting in the sway of a strong wind. They will stay.

8. They will be your confidante in the absence of your parents. Or if not in the absence, at least your priority to tell your secrets to. The. Deepest. Darkest. Secrets.

9. As you grow older, you look back on things that you were in together. You mostly laugh at things that you did immaturely and swore that you will be better moving forward. But that will just be a cycle of immaturity over immaturity over more immaturity. And I think that what makes friends surrender to genuine friendship.

Work

There is so much pressure that I’ve experienced when it comes to my career. So many expectations that should be met, salary package that must be considered, and title that must be achieved. I have met, considered, and achieved all of these. Still am. But there is more to these that you must be particular with at 27.

10. Don’t settle for less. You are no longer a fresh graduate or with a 1-4 years experience just like what JobStreet normally would categorize people in that bracket. By this time, you have learned skills and you are now a fishermen capable of catching a swordfish instead of a sardine. Catch it!

11. We live in a time where skills are weighed more compared with the length of experience that you don’t have. It is not being entitled to get a managerial post at your age despite you lacking experience. So long that your portfolio and skill justify your role. Hence, don’t let anyone older than you belittle you with their length of experience in the industry. Smile, tell them that it’s already 2017, drop mic, and prove them wrong. But always be professional.

12. Speaking of being entitled, there are times when at this age you will be called as a millennial at work. Or perhaps a brat being so fastidious of your achievements instead of proving your worth more in the workplace. One of the best pieces of advice that I have learned from one of my best mentors, confidants, and friend, Ms. Smile Caamud, that it helps to drop our being millennials and just do the work that must be done as a normal employee who is proving one’s worth in the workplace.

Health

By the age of 27, you are halfway through your life as a human–considering that the average lifespan will be 50. But you definitely have the chance making it longer if you would like to.

13. If you haven’t started working out by this age, it is definitely a time that you should. It is not just a way for you to look better, find a better mate, or even fit the mold of what the society deems to be presentable or not. Working out is a way for you to prepare yourself for battles of life that will be thrown at you. Loving your body isn’t something for the sake of vanity. It is just necessary.

14. Your body is the temple of your soul. You are able to change and make a difference. You do this through your hands that you can lend as a helping hand, your feet to get you places, your body to give warm embrace, your eyes that make you see the world’s beauty, and your heart that will beat for as long as it can. Nourish your temple with things that it deserves for you to be able to do more things for the rest of your beautiful life.

15. Body positivity starts from within. Regardless if you’re too fat or too thin, no one will love what you have than you. Love your curves. Love your blemishes. Love your scars. Love your reach. But most of all, improve what you love about yourself.

Money

How much do you really need to have in a bank to say that you are financially free? In my age, I learned the hard way of how important money is for some of the major aspects of being an adult. And the word “hard” is quite an understatement.

16. No matter how big your salary is or how many income streams you have, if you are not going to budget your money, it seems like putting your money in a piggy bank with a black hole inside it. I learned to budget not because I would like to. But I was forced to. And if you are on the same page as I am, it is never too late. However, work on it ASAP.

17. Life insurance is something that you must really consider at this stage and time. Actually, way before you squandered your money on things that you have only wasted. But then again, it is never too late. You can read my review here regarding life insurance. And by the way, I am also a Financial Advisor so let’s talk about it. 🙂

18. Money changes its meaning to what you can afford to what you cannot. There are plenty of things in life that will never be bought by money such as respect, dignity, and leadership. Add up to the list are your friends, family, and mentors. So make sure that you invest your money into something worthwhile. Invest in yourself. Invest in improvements as a human person.

Spirituality

“Spirituality does not come from religion. It comes from our soul.” – Anthony Douglas William (Inside The Divine Pattern).

19. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. I have seen plenty of people who claimed to be “religious.” But being religious is better said than done. I would rather call myself as a believer of kindness, tolerance, and acceptance in a world sugar-coated with hypocrisy.

20. Buddha once said, “Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.” No matter how hard we try to claim that we do not need a God or just another being to guide or existence, there will come a time that we will kneel down and call on “someone.” That “someone” will listen no matter what and will make you feel the warmth of your existence. That “someone” is God.

21. Direct communication with God is better than being in a church that will make you feel unworthy of being there. I have spent 13 years in a Catholic School. I was made to believe that being gay was a sin. I knew it was. But did you know what I’ve learned to date? That by being myself, I am putting something wonderful that was not there before. Religion is following the messenger. Spirituality is following the message. I follow the latter.

Freedom

At this age, there’s no greater freedom than the freedom to be yourself. Give yourself that gift, and choose to surround yourself with those who appreciate you exactly as you truly are. I am gay and I don’t think that I’ve settled for less.

22. All my life, society dictates that my existence is a mistake. That I can still be rewired to be what I am supposed to be. I declined to listen. Those who do not move do not notice their chains. And I have realized that I was so chained with the society’s whim when I must not be. I will never go back to that chains.

23. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. Whatever you do, right or otherwise, people will still have a thing to stay. So do whatever makes you happy. Do good and give yourself a pat on your back. Make a mistake and learn, stand up.

24. Break the rules. Find your freedom. Live your life. That’s what I am doing with all my nude yoga photos. The more I free myself from the restrictions set to me, the more that I will be bolder, both literally and figuratively, with my convictions in life.

Being Single

This is YET a very sensitive topic for me to talk about. But being a young adult, I think it is something that must be served on my table. At 27, I have experienced quite a few notable heartbreaks. I know I may be far too young to say that I have experienced it all. But what I know is, I have loved and I have learned. And there is nothing wrong to be single.

25. Sometimes, flying solo makes your wings stronger. At times we think that we are better off with somebody to lean on. And I must agree with that. Being single for the longest time gave me the time to really focus on myself and love myself more.

26. Being single is also synonymous with being happy. It means that you are accepting where you are in life and making the most out of every day. Hear the music in silence. See the light in the darkness. Find a friend in a stranger. You don’t really have to wallow in despair because you are single. Instead, you can…

27. Turn your scars into stars. I think this is the best thing that being single has to offer. It gives you the time and space to really refresh yourself on everything. It is a time for learning and gratefulness for things that were and things that will be.

Twenty seven life lessons are not quite enough to summarize all of the learning that I have amassed at the stage. There are still plenty of things that I am thankful for and I have learned from. I wish to read this by 2018 when I am 28 years old and revisit my learning and add up after a year. For the meantime, I will claim that I am just 22 years old plus 5 years of experience. 😉

27 Life Lessons I’ve Learned In My 27 Years Of Existence

Joemar is the Blogger-In-Chief of BaklaPoAko.Com. He is currently a graduate student in University of the Philippines Open University. He also studied at Maquillage Professionnel School of Makeup Artistry and School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). He is a bold advocate of education, environment and LGBT issues. An earner, dreamer and a lover. Before he was once a dream-sprouting seed. Now he's a tree in his renaissance and will always be evergreen. Hear him speak with his intelligent guide for gay news of the Philippines and worldwide, Bakla Po Ako. Confirmed!.Follow him on Twitter @belleza_joemar. Gay it forward!

Joemar is the Blogger-In-Chief of BaklaPoAko.Com. He is currently a graduate student in University of the Philippines Open University. He also studied at Maquillage Professionnel School of Makeup Artistry and School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). He is a bold advocate of education, environment and LGBT issues. An earner, dreamer and a lover. Before he was once a dream-sprouting seed. Now he's a tree in his renaissance and will always be evergreen. Hear him speak with his intelligent guide for gay news of the Philippines and worldwide, Bakla Po Ako. Confirmed!. Follow him on Twitter @belleza_joemar. Gay it forward!